Pat

Don't know how dirty the canals are around yours, but I personally wouldn't eat anything that has lived in the Grand Union in London... too many dead rats and car tyres floating around.

Does it matter? I personally couldn't care less how many arms the local lock keeper has... Do you have some sort of fettish...?

Hi there! I have also recently bought a fishing rod, and although our stretch of the canal is packed with fish, I have never cought anything. Its like a big long ongoing joke. I'll be sitting on my boat with my rod out (fishing rod, that is) catching nothing, with fish jumping all around me and cormorants and herons stuffing their faces right in front of me! What am I doing wrong? I've been using everything from sweet corn to beef, but no luck. I was wondering if it has something to do with the depth of the hook? How far under the waterline should my hook be floating? Thanks for any angling advice. In fact, we should have a who can catch the biggest fish over the weekend competition!

Hi Blokey, I know you are being bombarded with advice here, but I personally would go down there, preferably with your solicitor, and insist on a receipt for the money you have paid. Don't leave without it. Call him up, tell him you are coming round the next day to pick it up, and then sit there until he gives you the receipt. That is surely the first step. Threatening to record phone calls and removing the boat in 7 days etc, will sound like empty threats if you can't go through with it. Its a horrible situation to be in, and chances are the guy is just an unreliable loser and you'll get your boat in the end. Hang on in there.

Thanks Jill, That's great. I'll certainly give Aveda a try. And I like the sound of the hand relief!

Just wondering how many of you use biodegradable shampoo and shower gel, and if you can recommend any good brands? I really like the Ecover washing up liquid, but am keen to find a really good biodergadable shower gel and shampoo. Cheers! Just re-read this and realized that this post makes me sound like some kind of washer woman. I'll be asking about knitting next...

I grew up in Spain, where everyone uses plug in repellants that really do the job. You must be able to get them over here too. Just plug it in, and the mossies will stay out. The ones that are already in the boat will either fly out, or eventually die. Strange thing is, the mossies we get on our boat don't seem to bite. Maybe they can't handle the alcohol in our blood stream.

Yep. They look like proper gin palace cowboys to me.... I supose you get more of them on the rivers then we do on the canals.

Not a bad idea! I reckon it might even look quite stylish.

BW do come round every now and again with a special rubbish removal boat that scoops up most of it, but its not enough. It kind of comes in waves. The photos were taken on a particularly bad day, but it is usually pretty bad.

Now I don't mind the occasional bit of rubbish floating by, but this goes too far. Does anyone know who is in charge of keeping towpaths and the water clean? Is there a special department for that? We need some bins on the tow path so people stop chucking everything in the water! I spoke to the local BW guy, and he just mumbled something about it not being his job and that he would pass on my concerns to someone else....

I can't see bugger all when I reverse.....

That is a very familiar sight!